Full Press Release Details
Defense Reports Broad Travelan Reactivity to 180
Pathogenic Bacteria including Camylobacter and Shigella
Australia, January 30, 2017: Immuron Limited (ASX: IMC; NASDQ: IMRN), an Australian microbiome biopharmaceutical company focused
on developing and commercializing oral immunotherapeutics for the treatment of many gut mediated diseases, today highlighted a
recent study on the immuno-reactivity of its commercially available and over-the-counter gastrointestinal and digestive health
supplement Travelan to infectious bacterium strains from Southeast Asia.
study was commissioned by the US Department of Defense (DoD), funded by the Defense Health Agency's Defense Health Program
and performed at the Department of Enteric Diseases (DED), Armed Forces Research Institute
of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), an overseas laboratory of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), located in
Bangkok, Thailand. The primary goal of this program was to investigate Travelan immunological reactivity with
pathogenic bacteria including Campylobacter, Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and Shigella. The tested
bacterial isolates originated from the AFRIMS's library of infectious diseases.
evaluate the immuno-reactivity of Travelan 60 clinical isolates of each bacteria, Campylobacter, ETEC,
and Shigella, were tested by a Western blot analysis. The clinical isolates were collected from infected patients located
in Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal and Thailand between 1993 and 2016, allowing researchers to measure the impact of Travelan
antibodies on recent infectious bacterial strains in the field. When compared to the control, researchers found that
the antibodies within Immuron's Travelan product were reactive to all
180 clinical isolates from these infected individuals. The ability of Travelan to
bind and potentially neutralise these bacteria, highlights the broad-spectrum recognition of surface antigens on potentially debilitating
and even life-threatening bacteria.
of Immuron, Dr. Jerry Kanellos, said:
are pleased to see that Travelan , a product that has achieved significant sales growth, has proven its reactivity
to a multitude of clinically relevant bacterium strains within Southeast Asia including ETEC, Campylobacter and Shigella,"
work completed at AFRIMS is the first of three research projects we are collaborating on with the US DoD. We hope to announce
the study results from the Department of Enteric Infections, US Naval Medical Research Center and the Department of Enteric Infections,
Bacterial Diseases Branch, WRAIR in the next few months.
reactivity to various forms of these infectious diseases makes it a valuable asset to foreign government officials looking to
protect employees stationed in these regions, as well as consumers who want to preserve their health while travelling abroad.
In addition to consumer purchases, government and organizational adoption of Travelan represents a significant
revenue opportunity for Immuron, and one that we seek to capitalize upon as we market the product more broadly."
prophylactic treatment that protects against enteric diseases, specifically Shigella, is a high priority objective for
the US Army, supported under Military Infectious Diseases Research Program, and for
use in endemic areas of the world. Shigella in particular is estimated to cause 80
-165 million cases of disease worldwide, resulting in 600,000 deaths annually and is particularly prevalent in both sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
| COMPANY CONTACT: Jerry Kanellos Chief Executive Officer (Interim) Ph: +61 (0)3 9824 5254 jerrykanellos@immuron.com | AUS INVESTOR RELATIONS: Peter Taylor NWR Communications Ph: +61 (0)4 1203 6231 peter@nwrcommunications.com.au | |
| USA MEDIA CONTACT: Kate Caruso-Sharpe FischTank Marketing and PR US Ph: + 1 646 699 1414 kate@fischtankpr.com | USA INVESTOR RELATIONS: Jon Cunningham RedChip Companies, Inc. US Ph: +1 (407) 644 4256, (ext. 107) jon@redchip.com |
Ltd (ASX: IMC) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercialising oral immunotherapeutics for the treatment
of many gut mediated diseases. Immuron has a unique and safe technology platform that enables a shorter development therapeutic
cycle. The Company currently markets and sells Travelan for the prevention of traveler's diarrhea whilst
its lead product candidate IMM-124E is in Phase 2 clinical trials for NASH and ASH. These products together with the Company's
other preclinical immunotherapy pipeline products targeting immune-related diseases currently under development, will meet a large
unmet need in the market. For more information visit: http://www.immuron.com
statements made in this release are forward-looking statements and are based on Immuron's current expectations, estimates
and projections. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes,"
"seeks," "estimates," "guidance" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Although Immuron believes the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, they are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Immuron's control, including those risks or uncertainties inherent
in the process of both developing and commercialising technology. As a result, actual results could materially differ from those
expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this release relate only to
events as of the date on which the statements are made. Immuron will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions
or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date
of this release except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.